Hockey ice skate

ABSTRACT

An ice skate comprising a blade and a chassis, the chassis being associated with the blade along one side of it, to support and apply the blade to the sole of a shoe for ice skates, wherein the chassis has a box structure, substantially a shell, made by at least one layer of prefixed material and including the blade at said one side, with a hard clamping of the blade between the sides of the shell structure so as to substantially realize a keel for the blade.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates, in its more general terms, to a iceskate of the type which comprises a blade and a chassis for supportingsaid blade and for removably applying the blade to the sole of acorresponding shoe.

2. Description of the Related Art

In ice skating sports, it is well known that the functionality of theused skates, the maintenance over time of such functionality accordingto the original levels, as well as the quality of the performance thatare achieved and achievable thanks to them, largely depend on thehardness being intrinsic and/or provided to the blades of the consideredice skates.

In fact, just the hardness of the blades, generally understood as theirresistance to scratching, abrasion and penetration, is responsible ofthe grip on ice and, thus, of the balance, safety, reliability ofperformance of particularly challenging exercises, as well the executionof sudden, sharp and sometimes violent movement, such as braking,scraping and jumping, which may occur during those exercises. A processto manufacture ice skate blades having a high hardness is described forinstance in the U.S. Pat. No. 7,556,700 issued on Jul. 7, 2009 in thename of Boisvert.

It is also known, however, that the hardness of an element, such as ablade for ice skates, is strictly associated with its fragility and thatis almost always a really negative feature, as in particular in case ofice skate blades.

In fact, during sudden movements of the above mentioned type, cracks oreven fractures of the blades may occur, not only compromising theexercise under execution, but also jeopardizing the skater safety.

It is therefore usual in ice skating, providing skates with blades beingas hard as possible, always duly taking into account a reduction of thedangerous consequences of their corresponding fragility.

The technical experts in the field have constantly worked on thematerial composing the blades, always proposing trade-offs betweenflexibility and hardness. However, all these efforts have lead tosubstantially not satisfactory results, as is typical of any compromise.

BRIEF SUMMARY

An embodiment is directed to an ice skate using a blade having theoptimum hardness more in tune with the sport exercises being performed,without taking into account the effects due to mechanical stress thatmay occur on it, and to protect the blade against the effects of thisstress, with the same structure of the skate.

In particular, this embodiment provides an ice skate comprising a bladeand a chassis, the chassis being associated with the blade along oneside of it, to support and apply the blade to the sole of a shoe for iceskates, wherein the chassis has a box structure, substantially a shell,made by at least one layer of prefixed material and including the bladeat said one side, with a hard clamping of the blade between the sides ofthe shell structure so as to substantially realize the blade as a keel.

More in particular, the embodiments comprise the following supplementaland optional features, taken alone or in combination when needed.

According to an aspect of the disclosure, the chassis may be made by atleast three layers, with the formation of a multilayer composite whichrealizes the box structure.

Furthermore, according to an aspect of the disclosure, the multilayercomposite may include an inner layer and an outer layer which are madeof resin reinforced with carbon fibers and an intermediate layercomprising Kevlar or the like.

According to this aspect of the disclosure, the intermediate layer maybe made by Kevlar and a resin reinforced with carbon fibers.

According to another aspect of the disclosure, the materials of thelayers may be woven.

Furthermore, according to an aspect of the disclosure, the multilayercomposite may comprise different layers and a resin, the resin acting asan adhesive.

According to another aspect of the disclosure, the blade may comprise atleast one recess in correspondence with said one side, the recessdefining an undercut surface being engaged with the multilayer compositeto positively hold the blade.

According to yet another aspect of the disclosure, the blade maycomprise at least two recesses in correspondence with said one side, therecesses being symmetrically placed at the front and rear ends of theblade and defining respective undercut surfaces being engaged with themultilayer composite to positively hold the blade.

Moreover, according to an aspect of the disclosure, the chassis maycomprise a front portion and a rear portion having respective free edgesbeing bordered with respective flanges to their fixing to the sole ofthe shoe.

Also according to another aspect of the disclosure, the chassis maycomprise an intermediate portion between the front and rear portions,the intermediate portion having a zone intended for receiving a visualcommunication.

According to another aspect of the disclosure, the chassis may comprisea lowered intermediate portion between the front and rear portions, thelowered intermediate portion defining an air zone between the chassisand the sole of the shoe.

According to yet another aspect of the disclosure, the chassis mayfurther comprise a closing element between the front and rear portions,the closing element having a matching profile with respect to theperimeter of the air zone.

Moreover, according to a further aspect of the disclosure, themultilayer composite may comprise at least a thermoplastic orelastomeric material.

Finally, according to a further aspect of the disclosure, the multilayercomposite may comprise an inner layer made by a thermoplastic orelastomeric material and the closing element may be thermowelded to theinner layer.

Embodiments of the disclosure also provide an ice skate shoe comprisinga sole, a blade and a chassis, the chassis being associated with theblade along one side of it, to support and apply the blade to the sole,wherein the chassis has a box structure, essentially a shell, made by atleast one layer of prefixed material and including the blade at said oneside, with a hard clamping of the blade between the sides of the shellstructure so as to substantially realize the blade as a keel.

According to an aspect of the disclosure, the chassis may be made by atleast three layers, with the formation of a multilayer composite whichrealizes the box structure.

According to another aspect of the disclosure, the multilayer compositemay include an inner layer and an outer layer which are realized ofresin reinforced with carbon fibers and an intermediate layer comprisingKevlar or the like.

According to yet another aspect of the disclosure, the blade maycomprise at least one recess in correspondence with said one side, therecess defining an undercut surface being engaged with the multilayercomposite to positively hold the blade.

Moreover, according to another aspect of the disclosure, the chassis maycomprise a front portion and a rear portion having respective free edgesbeing bordered with respective flanges to their fixing to the sole.

According to another aspect of the disclosure, the chassis may comprisea lowered intermediate portion between the front and rear portions, thelowered intermediate portion defining an air zone between the chassisand the sole of the shoe.

Finally, according to yet another aspect of the disclosure, the chassismay further comprise a closing element between the front and rearportions, the closing element having a matching profile with respect tothe perimeter of the air zone.

The features and advantages of an ice skate according to the disclosurewill be apparent from the following description of an embodimentthereof, given by way of non-limitative example with reference to theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an ice skate according to anembodiment;

FIG. 2 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of the ice skate ofFIG. 1;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are transversal sectional views of the ice skate of FIG.1; and

FIG. 5 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of an ice skateaccording to an alternative embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to the figures, 1 globally indicates an ice skate, inparticular a hockey ice skate.

The ice skate 1 comprises a shoe 2 having a sole 3, extending between atip portion 4 and heel portion 5, with an intermediate portion 6 beingat the arc of the foot.

The ice skate 1 comprises a blade 7, with a top side 8 and a bottom side9, the blade extending between a front end 10 and a rear end 11. Incorrespondence of the top side 8 and near the ends 10 and 11, the blade7 includes respective projections 12 and 13, which define respectiverecesses 14 and 15, symmetrically arranged at said ends 10, 11, andhence respective undercut surfaces, being all marked with u, asschematically shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The ice skate 1 also comprises a chassis 16 for supporting the blade 7and for fixing the blade to the shoe 2.

In particular, the chassis 16 has a box structure, substantially a shellwith a V-shaped section, long as the sole 3 of the shoe 2. The chassis16 has a seat 17 for retaining the blade 7 which extends all along thechassis 16, in correspondence of the upper side 8 of the blade 7, as akeel of the shell, and has a top free side 18 which abuts against thesole 3, along its perimeter. In its front portion 19, the free side 18of the chassis 16 is bordered with a flange 20, while, in a similarmanner, in its rear portion 21 the free side 18 of the chassis 16 isbordered with a flange 22. The flanges are provided with holes, allindicated with 23, for fastening the chassis 16 to the sole 3 of theshoe 2 with screws, not represented. An intermediate portion 24 isdetermined in the chassis 16 between the front portion 19 and the rearportion 21, the intermediate portion 24 being positioned in proximity tothe arc of the foot and acting as the link between front and rearportions, 19 and 21, so as to realize a substantial stiffening thereof.

The intermediate portion 24, and in particular its free side, abuts in apressing contact against the sole 3, so as to substantially seal it andprevent infiltration of water or ice within the chassis 16, for example.Suitably, the sole 3 is equipped with a slot, not shown in the figure,for the acceptance of this free side of the intermediate portion 24.

According to an alternative embodiment, the intermediate portion 24 isclosed at its top side, for instance with a sealing sleeve.

It should be noted that the intermediate portion 24 advantageously has,on both sides of the V-shaped shell and on the outside of them, a flatopen space 1, due to receive visual communications, such as suitablewording, having a technical, commercial or advertising content and/orsuitable visual representations, such as trademarks or photography ofpeople being famous in sports, entertainment and the like, in a word ofa testimonial.

The box structure is formed by three layers of suitable materials, asdescribed below, which realize a multilayer composite ml. In particular,the box structure is obtained by forming these layers, using heat andpressure. The multilayer composite ml includes the blade 7 inside theseat 17, in correspondence of its upper side 8, so as to obtain itspositive holding with no clearance. In addition, the multilayercomposite ml engages the recesses 14 and 15, with the consequence of apositive holding of the blade 7 in said seat 17 following the engagementof the undercut surfaces u of the multilayer composite ml itself, asschematically shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

The three layers composing the multilayer composite ml are indicatedwith 25, 26 and 27. In particular, the layer 25 is the inner layer, thelayer 26 is the outer layer and the layer 27 is the intermediate layer.

The inner layer 25 and the outer layer 26 are obtained starting from asheet of a resin reinforced with carbon fibers, preferably a laminatedfabric.

The intermediate layer 27 is a laminate of Kevlar fabric or the like,possibly combined with a resin reinforced with carbon fibers.

Preferably, the outer layer 26 is made of an aesthetics fabric.

More preferably, a biding resin is provided as an adhesive between thelayers 25, 26 and 27 of the multilayer composite material ml, not shownin the figure.

It is worth noting that the materials composing these three layers, i.e.the inner layer 25, the outer layer 26 and the intermediate layer 27,may be woven, in other words they may be obtained from a warp and a weftmade in these materials.

It is obviously possible to use a different number of layers and in adifferent sequence. In addition, according to a further embodiment ofthe disclosure, the chassis 16 includes a different number of layers incorrespondence of different portions thereof, and in particular agreater number of layers at its intermediate portion 24 acting as afurther stiffening.

It is also possible to realize the multilayer composite material byusing thermoplastic or elastomeric layers, being associated with layersof a composite material. In particular, in this case, the multilayercomposite can be made by overinjection of a thermoplastic or elastomericmaterial on a composite material layer and subsequent molding of thechassis 16.

Additionally, according to another aspect of the disclosure, asschematically shown in FIG. 5, the chassis 16 includes a loweredintermediate portion 28, which would leave an air zone 29 between thechassis 16 and the intermediate portion 6 of the sole 3 of the shoe 2.

In this case, a closing element 30 is provided, having a substantiallyC-shaped profile being conjugated to the perimeter of the air zone 29,to close the hollows or spaces defined by the chassis 16 incorrespondence of its front and rear portions, 19 and 21. In particular,the closing element 30 acts as a seal, for example against theinfiltration of water or ice within the chassis 16.

According to an aspect of the disclosure, when the chassis 16 includesat least one layer made of a thermoplastic or elastomeric material, inparticular realizing the inner layer 25, the closing element 30 may bethermowelded to this inner layer 25.

Alternatively, the chassis 19 can be filled with a foam which is alsoable to provide the desired sealing function against infiltration ofwater or ice within the chassis 16. Also, a suitable tape may be used toclose the spaces of the chassis 16.

The main advantage of the ice skate according to the disclosure is theability to withstand an unusual stress when working, for instance due toa sudden movement of the skater, in a word an extreme stress, madepossible by using a blade having a maximum hardness.

This advantage may be explained by the fact that the blade turns out tobe held in a viselike grip by the multilayered composite of the chassisthat ensures the necessary stiffening to prevent the breakage or damageof the blade. At the same time, the blade is integrated into the chassisstructure which realizes an armor for the blade.

In other words, the protection of the blade against stress being more orless strong, sharp and sudden, as well as against stress for exertion,is surprisingly assured by the recognized high rigidity of themultilayer composite material being used as well as by the box shape ofthe support chassis of the blade itself.

A long working life is also expected from the ice skate according to thedisclosure due to the fact that the blade and the chassis form a whole,the one being positively retained by the other, any slack and anyclearance being a priori excluded, the blade being hold in a viselikegrip for its entire length within the box structure of the chassis.

Another important advantage of the ice skate according to the disclosureis a never previously obtained light weight, thanks to the use of themultilayer composite material and the hull-shaped chassis.

A further advantage of particular importance for an article to be builtin large or very large series is that it may be produced by automatedmeans.

Last but not least advantage is the possibility to realize the ice skateaccording to the disclosure with an aerodynamic and aestheticallypleasing design.

The various embodiments described above can be combined to providefurther embodiments. All of the U.S. patents, U.S. patent applicationpublications, U.S. patent application, foreign patents, foreign patentapplication and non-patent publications referred to in thisspecification and/or listed in the Application Data Sheet areincorporated herein by reference, in their entirety. Aspects of theembodiments can be modified, if necessary to employ concepts of thevarious patents, application and publications to provide yet furtherembodiments.

These and other changes can be made to the embodiments in light of theabove-detailed description. In general, in the following claims, theterms used should not be construed to limit the claims to the specificembodiments disclosed in the specification and the claims, but should beconstrued to include all possible embodiments along with the full scopeof equivalents to which such claims are entitled. Accordingly, theclaims are not limited by the disclosure.

1. An ice skate comprising a blade and a chassis, the chassis beingassociated with the blade along one side of it, to support and apply theblade to a sole of a shoe for ice skates, wherein the chassis has a boxstructure, substantially a shell, made by at least one layer of prefixedmaterial and incorporating the blade at said one side, with a hardclamping of the blade between the sides of the shell structure so as tosubstantially realize a keel for the blade.
 2. The ice skate of claim 1,wherein the chassis is made by at least three layers, with the formationof a multilayer composite which realizes the box structure.
 3. The iceskate of claim 2, wherein the multilayer composite includes an innerlayer and an outer layer which are made of resin reinforced with carbonfibers and an intermediate layer comprising Kevlar or the like.
 4. Theice skate of claim 3, wherein the intermediate layer is made by Kevlarand a resin reinforced with carbon fibers.
 5. The ice skate of claim 4,wherein the materials of the layers are woven.
 6. The ice skate of claim5, wherein the multilayer composite comprises different layers and aresin, the resin acting as an adhesive.
 7. The ice skate of claim 6,wherein the blade comprises at least one recess in correspondence withsaid one side, the recess defining an undercut surface being engagedwith the multilayer composite to positively hold the blade.
 8. The iceskate of claim 6, wherein the blade comprises at least two recesses incorrespondence with said one side, the recesses being symmetricallyplaced at the front and rear ends of the blade and defining respectiveundercut surfaces being engaged with the multilayer composite topositively hold the blade.
 9. The ice skate of claim 1, wherein thechassis comprises a front portion and a rear portion having respectivefree edges being bordered with respective flanges configured to fix thechassis to the sole of the shoe.
 10. The ice skate of claim 9, whereinthe chassis comprises an intermediate portion between the front and rearportions, the intermediate portion having a zone intended for receivinga visual communication.
 11. The ice skate of claim 9, wherein thechassis comprises a lowered intermediate portion between the front andrear portions, the lowered intermediate portion defining an air zonebetween the chassis and the sole of the shoe.
 12. The ice skate of claim11, wherein the chassis further comprises a closing element between thefront and rear portions, the closing element having a matching profilewith respect to a perimeter of the air zone.
 13. The ice skate of claim3, wherein the multilayer composite comprises at least a thermoplasticor elastomeric material.
 14. The ice skate of claim 12, wherein themultilayer composite comprises an inner layer made by a thermoplastic orelastomeric material and the closing element is thermowelded to theinner layer.
 15. An ice skate shoe comprising a sole, a blade and achassis, the chassis being associated with the blade along one side ofit, to support and apply the blade to the sole, wherein the chassis hasa box structure, substantially a shell, made by at least one layer ofprefixed material and incorporating the blade at said one side, with ahard clamping of the blade between sides of the shell structure so as tosubstantially realize a keel for the blade.
 16. The ice skate shoe ofclaim 15, wherein the chassis is made by at least three layers, with theformation of a multilayer composite which realizes the box structure.17. The ice skate shoe of claim 16, wherein the multilayer compositeincludes an inner layer and an outer layer which are realized of resinreinforced with carbon fibers and an intermediate layer comprisingKevlar or the like.
 18. The ice skate shoe of claim 16, wherein theblade comprises at least one recess in correspondence with said oneside, the recess defining an undercut surface being engaged with themultilayer composite to positively hold the blade.
 19. The ice skateshoe of claim 15, wherein the chassis comprises a front portion and arear portion having respective free edges being bordered with respectiveflanges to their fixing to the sole.
 20. The ice skate shoe of claim 19,wherein the chassis comprises a lowered intermediate portion between thefront and rear portions, the lowered intermediate portion defining anair zone between the chassis and the sole of the shoe.
 21. The ice skateshoe of claim 20, wherein the chassis further comprises a closingelement between the front and rear portions, the closing element havinga matching profile with respect to the perimeter of the air zone.
 22. Anice skate, comprising: a shoe having a sole; a blade having an upperportion with a protruding portion defining an underlying recessed area;and a chassis configured to fix the blade to the sole of the shoe, thechassis including a recessed portion configured to receive and clamp theupper portion of the blade and an undercut surface configured to extendinto the underlying recessed area of the blade and engage the protrudingportion of the blade.